Kim Jong-pil, one of South Korea's most influential political figures, has passed away at the age of 92.
Believed to have succumbed to old age, Kim died at 8:15 AM, Korea time, on Saturday, while being taken to Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Seoul by ambulance.

The Presidential Office of Cheong Wa Dae expressed its condolences over Kim's death.
The top office's senior political affairs secretary is expected to pay his respects at Kim's funeral at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul on Saturday evening.

After graduating from the Korea Military Academy, Kim Jong-pil played a key role in the 1961 military coup that helped then-General Park Chung-hee rise to power.
After Park became president, Kim founded and headed the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, now the National Intelligence Service, before serving as South Korea's prime minister from 1971 to 1975.

He served as prime minister again from 1998 to 2000 under former President Kim Dae-jung.
Kim Jong-pil is regarded as the man who helped guide Kim Dae-jung to victory in the 1997 presidential election.

- SOV
"We cannot do this without each other's trust."

He's often dubbed the "Eternal No. 2" due to his massive influence and power, and failure to reach the absolute pinnacle of South Korean politics.

Combined, Kim Jong-pil served nine terms as a lawmaker, the longest of any South Korean politician in history.
He was the last of the so-called "Three Kims" who were political heavyweights in the 1980s and 90s-- together with Former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam .
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.